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International must act now to save lives of hunger strikers in Greece

Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney to urgently intervene in the case of asylum seekers in Greece who have been are on hunger strike for over a month.

Bahrooz Arash, and Kozhin Hussein are demanding an end to arbitrary imprisonment and inhumane treatment including psychological and physical abuse of refugees in Moria detention centre.

Matt Carthy said:

“I have contacted the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Irish Embassy in Greece​ and Christos Stylianides EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid & Crisis regarding the disturbing case of asylum seekers in Greece who have been on hunger strike for over a month now.

“The Hunger strikers are seeking an end to arbitrary imprisonment and inhumane treatment including psychological and physical abuse of refugees in Moria detention centre.

“Bahrooz Arash is now in a particularly bad condition having lost 16kgs since his hunger strike began.

“Despite medical opinion that these hunger strikers need to be in hospital, the authorities have not allowed this.

“The strikers have been told they will be released on August 7th but Arash Behrooz may die by then.

“I have contacted Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, The Irish Embassy in Greece​ and Christos Stylianides the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management to use their influence to ensure that these refugees are released to receive the maximum medical treatment immediately.

“International intervention is now required to save their lives.

“These people have already been forced to flee war and persecution in their own countries.

“As their condition deteriorates and the situation becomes grave, we need to see action from the international community, and the EU in particular.”